Is a magnum load in a short barrel revolver wasted?

[R.W.Dale]

I think the barrel is the rifled part (except if it's not a revolver). never know though

This is wrong

Even the atf measures to the breach face to determine barrel length EXCEPT

ON REVOLVERS wich get measured from the cylinder face forward.

BBTI's data for a 2" bbl would be equal to a revolver with a 1/2" barrel. I've never seen such a gun have y'all?



Simple answer to this thread is if you have about 4" to accelerate a bullet of a given weight wich bullet will accelerate faster?

The bullet with 20,000 psi pushing on it or the bullet with 35,000psi


At best 38 from a 2" barrel is a 800fps cartridge with 125g ammunition.

In the same gun 357 with the right load will do 1200+

Now to really twist your minds a 9mm 2" revolver will only loose about 100fps to the magnum with over 2x the case capacity. Its all about the pressure rating in short barrelled guns, burn rate really doesn't become a factor till you step up to carbine length bbls



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[Certaindeaf]

That's what I said.. well except for the rifled part. Maybe I should've said the part that holds the rifling. anyway, knock yourself out

 

[GLOOB]

This is the reloading forum. I dunno why you're comparing 38 special to 357 magnum. You ought to be comparing 357 magnum with moderate charges of medium-fast burn rate powders to full tilt 357 magnum loads using slow magnum powders.

Out of a 2-3" barrel, you will gain only a fraction of the extra velocity, all the extra kick, and some bonus muzzle blast to boot. 1700-1800fps looks great on a loading chart until you see the test barrel is 10" long.

For most pistol calibers, the length of the barrel doesn't matter as much. It makes a bigger difference when you're looking at 357 with its large case volume. That large volume is what allows the use of big charges of slower rifle powders (H110 was developed for the 30 carbine, IIRC). And barrel length becomes more of a factor. The faster load will generally remain the faster load. But you will get less gains to offset the extra recoil and muzzle blast.

A 9mm carbine might shoot a few hundred fps faster than a pistol if you work up the right load. But a 357 carbine can be made into a completely different animal vs a short barrel revolver. Those crazy fast 357 carbine loads won't be very impressive out of the revolver, unless your chronograph measures muzzle blast.

 

[R.W.Dale]

In this comparison, you will gain only a fraction of the extra velocity, all the extra kick, and some bonus muzzle blast to boot. 1700-1800fps looks great on a loading chart until you see the test barrel is 10" long.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=653813

My testing bears this out that the shorter the barrel the LESS pronounced advantage slow powders have over faster. BUT they do retain an advantage none the lesd



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[CraigC]

You ought to be comparing 357 magnum with moderate charges of medium burn rate powders to full tilt 357 magnum loads using slower magnum powders.

The result is the same, no matter how long or short the barrel is. Max velocity will always be with slower powders like H110/296 or Lil Gun.

Out of a 2-3" barrel, you will gain only a fraction of the extra velocity, all the extra kick

I guess you could call 40-50% more a "fraction".

 

[R.W.Dale]

I guess you could call 40-50% more a "fraction".

You wont gain nearly that much. Not even 10%





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[Rule3]

So now we've gone from, "there ain't a difference" to "there is a difference but it doesn't matter"??? Interesting.

If you don't think 400fps matters, well then I really can't help because you clearly don't have a clue how all this works. I guess they really didn't need to develop the .357 at all then, huh? Or the .44Mag for that matter.



I don't know how I can be more clear but I will try. Jesus. Revolver barrels are not measured with the chamber. Only the barrel itself is measured. With me on this? BBTI did not use revolvers for their tests. Their barrel is measured with the chamber. So do you understand that their 3" barrel includes the chamber and that a 2" revolver barrel does not? It would be different if we were talking about autos but we are not. Get it?

Why don't you chill out and get of your high horse. Who do you think you are that you can speak to anyone this way?

You are right I am wrong. Carry on.

 

[CraigC]

You wont gain nearly that much. Not even 10%

I assumed that "fraction" was .38 vs. .357 but re-reading it he may have meant medium vs. slow burning rates.

Why don't you chill out and get of your high horse. Who do you think you are that you can speak to anyone this way?

Calling me names won't make you any less wrong. So which is it, either it only makes a 50fps difference and that doesn't matter, or it makes a 400fps difference and it still doesn't matter? I guess whatever the facts are, whether it makes a difference or not, it doesn't matter. Now I understand how you construct your arguments.

 

[Robert]

That's enough bickering for one thread.